MP criticised for socialising with Made in Chelsea star

A Tory MP has been criticsed for missing a local protest meeting while he was
drinking with the star of Channel 4 reality series Made in Chelsea.

Tory MP Brooks NewmarkPhoto: REX FEATURES

1:59PM BST 22 Jul 2011

Brooks Newmark had told organisers in his Halstead constituency, in Essex, that the House of Commons whips needed him at Westminster.

The meeting, to debate the future of the towns postal depot, started at 8pm.

But at 8.30pm he told his Twitter followers he was enjoying a drink with Made in Chelsea star and diamond mining heir Francis Boulle, and posted a picture of them together.

Steve Knight, who runs Halstead's postal museum, said: "If he was supping on the terraces at the Houses of Parliament that is a disgrace and is only to be expected from MPs who are not closely connected with communities. "

David Hume, the Mayor of Halstead, said: "I am disappointed he wasnt at the meeting. I think it would have appropriate for our MP to be there."